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New museum of Polish-born Pope John Paul II to open weeks before his elevation to sainthood

Pictures cover a wall in the historic house museum of the Holy Father John Paul II Family Home in Wadowice, Poland just ahead of its official opening. The museum was the family home of Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II whose canonization will take place on April 27, 2014. In Poland late Pope John Paul II is a national hero and top moral authority -- even today -- and is beloved like nowhere else. Photo: Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images

WADOWICE, Poland –– A new museum in Poland is offering viewers a chance to see what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a saint — or at least to have a look at the black socks he wore for the journey.

With the late Pope John Paul II’s elevation to sainthood set for later this month, his hometown of Wadowice is celebrating with the grand opening of a 6.2 million euro ($9.3 million) multimedia facility to show the faithful about his steps in life.

The museum is opening Wednesday in the southern city of Wadowice, where Karol Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920. It documents John Paul’s life from his youth as the son of an army officer, to priesthood and through the 26-year papacy that led to sainthood.

The museum features personal items like the sneakers and socks that the Rev. Wojtyla used in his kayaking and trekking excursions, his sunglasses, a plastic water bottle, family photos and the kneeler on which he prayed as a boy and teenager.

Also included is the Browning HP 9mm handgun which Mehmet Ali Agca used in attempting to assassinate the pope May 13, 1981. Beside the gun is a photo of the pope meeting Agca in prison to bestow forgiveness, and a replica of the bullet that injured the pontiff.

The Rev. Dariusz Ras, the museum director, told The Associated Press on Monday he hopes that the new exhibition will reach out to a whole new generation of the faithful with recordings of speeches, videos and reconstruction of the house where he was born.

The idea is to “show the pope before the canonization throughout his life, at his birthplace, in a form that is best for the young generation,” he said.